Is paying $495 to go to bartending school the way to go ?

Question

I want to become a bartender and I found a school called The Bartenders Training Institute. There website is www.bestbartenderschool.com close by to my house at they have a 2 week course that costs $495.00. They claim they will teach you how to become a bartender. I have an interview with the couselor and I will be sitting in on a class to see how it works. I am a male and I have never bartended and would like to break into this trade. Can someone out there give me an honest opinion about school and tell me why you feel that way. I think its a great idea to go to school if they actually help you learn how to make drinks and tend the bar but I dont want to get scammed.

Answer 1

I learned how to bartend by tending bar. It is hard to get a bartending job just walking in off the street with no experience. Must of the places that I worked at required you to work your way up. One place I worked door-bouncer-barback and then bartender. Another place, since I had experience, let me go straight to the bar.

So paying $500 may not be a bad deal if you can turn it into a job right away. It just depends if you can find a bar in your area that will hire you.

Answer 2

The best thing that you could do is to go work for a restaurant that has a bar and work your way into bartending. Also, picking up some books on cocktails to learn what’s in them will help. I bartended for some time in college and that’s how I did it. I would never pay to become a bartender. Some places will promote from within before they hire from outside.

Answer 3

No way. I'll tell you its a waste of time and money. I am a barmanager and I wont hire you unless you've bartended before. I tried it once but the guy knew his drinks and the knowledge but didn't know his way around the bar so I let him go. The best way to get into the trade is start at the bottom and work your way up. Start as a barback- someone who just pulls and restock beer and sometimes liquor and whatever else and sometimes required to clean tables and glassware ect. If you start there you'll be around it and learn experience which is what everyone looks at. Everyarea has their own lets say dilect of drinks and each area is different. There are different reciepes for the same drink from city to city. Like I know in south GA (where Im @) a blue motherf***er is vodka, blue curaco, pineapple,and sprite but in Atlanta they also put sweet and sour in it. The only way to learn what is in your area is to work it. but dont waste time or money on the school

Answer 4

Bartending school will not guarantee you will be good at bartending. I started bartending on my 21st b-day without one day of bartending school. All you need is someone to give you the opportunity to learn.

Answer 5

Thats a rip-off. There are a lot of bartending schools, where you can go for 2 weeks for $100. You need to check around.

Answer 6

FIRST OFF THAT IS CHEAP, BECAUSE HERE IN HOUSTON, TX IT COST $600--INCLUDES BOOKS, TRAINING, CERTIFICATION--FOR 2 WEEKS FROM 6PM TO 10PM , I WANTED TO TAKE THE EVENING CLASSES SINCE I WORK DURING THE DAY..BUT I THINK IT IS TO EXPENSIVE . MY PLAN WAS TO WORK BOTH DAY AND NIGHT ( DOCTOR'S ASSISTANT DURING THE DAY AND A BARTENDER AT NIGHT ). MONEY IS THE ONLY ISSUE HERE ...I, PERSONALLY, THINK ITS A GOOD INVESTMENT ..GOOD LUCK BAR TENDING. IT WILL BE LOTS OF FUN!!!

Answer 7

a friend of mine did this and he was already bartending..he loved it said he learned so much more....not just about pouring drinks but how to make them what glasses are for what how to keep the customers entertained..etc...go for it and good luck!

Answer 8

Sure. It doesn't seem that expensive, plus, you could be doing alot worse.